DA adds more charges in home invasion series

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SAN DIEGO -- Three people already accused in a home-invasion robbery in Sorrento Valley in which a mother of three was sexually assaulted were charged Thursday with two other "hot prowl'' robberies in which a gun was pointed at the victims.

Thomas James Smith, 24, and brothers Aaron David Rico III, 20, and Aaron David Rico V, 17, were charged last week with conspiracy to commit burglary, robbery, burglary and sexual assault in connection with the Jan. 31 home- invasion robbery in Sorrento Valley.

Stephen Ramon Gomez, 20, was also charged with the sexual assault robbery and Robin Elizabeth Shawver, also 20, was charged with conspiracy, robbery and burglary counts in connection with that break-in.

The prosecutor said Smith, Rico, Rico and Harvey are accused of breaking into a pair of residences in Carmel Mountain Ranch and Sabre Springs in the early morning hours of Feb. 11.

"They barged in through an unlocked door, and pointed a gun at the victims. They had them get on the ground and punched one of the victims in the back of the head," said Wang. "Two hours later and approximately three miles away, the defendants barged into another residence through an unlocked door as well. This victim's family was all tied up, their hands were bound with zip ties, shoelaces, and handcuffs."

Wang alleged the defendants broke into a home through an unlocked door about 2:50 a.m., pointed a gun at the victims -- who included 13- and 11-year- olds -- punched the father of the family in the head and got away.

Two hours later, the defendants allegedly broke into another home about three miles away, again pointed a gun at the victims, tied them up, kicked one person and ransacked the residence before getting away with $2,000 worth of electronics, Wang said.

Additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation into the robbery series continues, according to the prosecutor.

"This is a very violent series that we're investigating here,'' Wang said outside court. "These families are terrorized, especially when we're talking about children being present in the home, victims being bound up and tied, guns pointed at them. The actions of these defendants are very violent, very callous and they are a danger to the community at this point.''

In the Jan. 31 crime, Wang said the victim and her three children -- ranging in age from 4 to 8 -- were asleep when the defendants allegedly came into the home through an unlocked door about 2 a.m., barged into the mother;s room, demanded money and asked where the safe was located.

The defendants took jewelry off the woman's body, pointed a gun at her and threatened to shoot her, then sexually assaulted her, covered her face with a pillow case, tied her up and fled with $10,000 worth of jewelry and other property, the prosecutor alleged.

Gomez, Rico III, Smith and Rico V are being held on $1 million bail each. Bail for Harvey and Shawver is set at $500,000.

"We’re making efforts to keep all of these defendants together so that this is all one case and these victims only need to come in and testify one time," said Wang.

Smith -- who was on probation for residential burglary -- faces 180 years to life in prison if convicted.

Gomez faces 34 years to life, and the Rico brothers each face 38 years to life, if convicted. Shawver and Harvey would face nine and eight years behind bars, respectively, if found guilty.

The suspects also have been linked by police to a similar robbery that took place in the 11400 block of Aliento Court in Rancho Bernardo on Feb. 5.

While conducting searches as part of the investigation, detectives impounded two replica guns believed to have been used during the robberies, police said.

A status conference is set for March 3 and a preliminary hearing for March 9.